Microwave Cooking Tips & Recipe Ideas .

mandi

Hi All ,

Apologies if there's already a thread .

In a move to save on my electricity bill I've decided to use my microwave to cook from scratch rather than use the hob/oven as apparently it's more cost effective .

http://www.uswitch.com/energy-saving/guides/energy-efficient-cooking/

Now I have to admit that I use mine mainly to reheat

So my question is do you use your microwave this way & do you have any tried & tested tips and recipes ?

Thank you .

SailorSam

This is something i was only thinking about only last night. I've got a combi-microwave but never used the grill or oven option. I must dig-out the instruction manual.
Every so often i make a batch of meat & veg pies in little foil dishes but do them in the main oven 'cos of the foil. Last night i got one out of the freezer and needed to put the main oven on to warm it up (i know it can't go in the microwave in foil), but wondered if i learnt to use the combi part could i then put foil dishes in the microwave.

krlyr

SailorSam, I have a combi-microwave and use the oven feature all the time (I have to, our oven doesn't work! We're waiting to fit the new kitchen as we're replacing the stand alone with a fitted one). I use any regular oven-proof dishes, metal, foil, etc. and they're all fine to use on oven/grill mode. Obviously you can't use them if you use the microwave/oven combi mode though, just microwave and oven safe dishes like Pyrex etc. - I tend to make pies in ceramic dishes

SailorSam

krlyr wrote: »

SailorSam, I have a combi-microwave and use the oven feature all the time (I have to, our oven doesn't work! We're waiting to fit the new kitchen as we're replacing the stand alone with a fitted one). I use any regular oven-proof dishes, metal, foil, etc. and they're all fine to use on oven/grill mode. Obviously you can't use them if you use the microwave/oven combi mode though, just microwave and oven safe dishes like Pyrex etc. - I tend to make pies in ceramic dishes

When i bought the microwave it had a sort of stainless steel grill/stand inside it about 6" high which i'm suppose to use in grill mode so i thought it must be safe with a bit of foil.
Being here by myself seems to be a waste using the main oven.

CompBunny

I microwave (not a combi, just plain old tesco value microwave haha) cook:
Quorn in gravy/sauces
Veg - carrots, potatoes, peas etc
The occasional egg
HM tomato sauces
Fish for OH
Jackets
Baked beans

Really interested to see what other people cook in their microwaves! I use mine wherever possible for the same reason, its a cheap and less tiring (CFS sufferer here) way to cook.

MATH

I use my microwave a lot. It is often quicker, cheaper and cleaner than using the hob or oven.

Baked Potatoes (finished off for 20 mins in a hot oven to crisp off)
Rice and pasta (12 -15 mins, double volume of boiling water - never cover!!!)
Casseroles (cook on full until bubbling then reduce to defrost or med-low for about an hour)
Curry and chilli (similar cooking to casserole)
Home-made soups
Milk puddings (rice, sago etc - Cook on full until starting to simmer then reduce to defrost for 45 mins)
Steamed, sponge puddings (8-10 mins)
Crumble and Eve's pudding (finished off under a grill for colour)
Pasta & potato bakes, lasagne, mousaka, shepherd's pie etc (finish off under a grill for colour)

HTH

Cannyquine

The sponge puddings I make in the microwave only takes 5 minutes to cook.

Living_proof

Sailor Sam, please take the time to read in full the instructions for your combi. And then ring me and let me know the score! Seriously though I have had a combi for years and use it daily as the main oven. I also have a double oven and grill which is simply a store for the metal trays, etc. You MUST use the combi as your main oven and it will save you loads!

Chris25

I don't have a combi microwave but may get one next year as we have had this one nearly 30 years & it's enormous - and that lovely deep brown that all appliances came in many moons ago Trouble is, I don't really want to get rid of it just for the sake of it but I think we're updating the kitchen next year and this will free-up so much space.

Like some other posters, I cook jacket potatoes in it but crisp them off in the oven or under the grill. I also make soups, sponges and dishes like eve's pudding or even just stewing fruit.

After reading this thread, I'm quite looking forward to getting a new one now